We know the arc of the narrative, we know where it’s headed. Changing the setting won’t change the basic theme. Going back to the same well one too many times is a problem afflicting film-makers. Examples:
Movies with the words “Shaolin” or “Kung-Fu” in the title. Movies based on revered graphic novels that the fans of the graphic novels start trashing when the films are still in the pipeline. Movies about unlikely triumphs in competitions no one cares about (ice skating, ping pong, dodgeball, air drumming). Movies where everyone has to lie. Or tell the truth. Or say “yes” all the time. Or something. And, of course, teen vampire movies. Does every US schoolgirl have to be a bloodthirsty vampire?
Too much of a good thing is making us ill. This isn’t just a reaction against sequels; it is a reaction against films that so closely resemble other films that they seem like sequels.
Films about shockingly articulate English gangsters. Films where Juliette Binoche or Julie Delpy or Meryl Streep or Audrey Tautou or Kate Hudson discover the meaning of life in Paris. Films where Jennifer Aniston cannot find the right guy and never suspects that her hair may have something to do with it.
It is a reaction against films based on video games, or films where characters are trapped in video games, or films where people must enter video games to fully comprehend the evil that lurks inside video games and those that play them. Not to mention films where young people did a bad, bad, bad thing and now must pay the price. And, of course, it is a reaction against films that involve the war in Iraq. Or just Iraq.
Films about a gigantic metal object floating around the edge of the solar system – something horrible has happened to its original crew, but we won’t find out what for about 119 minutes. Nor will its cast. The only thing we do know about the haunted vehicle is that it looks exactly like the set from Event Horizon, which looked exactly like the set from Aliens, which looked exactly like the set from Leviathan, which looked a little bit like the set from Doom. We can also be fairly certain the cast will consist of people we have never heard of, plus Sam Neill.
More? Mockumentaries. Wayans Brothers send-ups. Parodies in general. Upscale remakes of downscale Asian horror films. Films about journalists. Films about charismatic schoolteachers. Films where dancing or chess or cooking help save poor inner-city kids from their own worst instincts. Honestly, folks, you can stop making these movies now. Please.
Here here.
